Souvenirs You Didn't Buy
I saw the thread on Souvenir Regrets - having second thoughts about what you bought.
I was wondering if there’s anything you regret not buying. For example, in Bayeux, France, last spring I saw a red metal “cuisine” sign that I didn’t buy. It would have been perfect in my kitchen and every time I look at that vacant spot on the wall… What did you pass up?
Donna
Cleveland, OH 3/17/10
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The blinking minature Eiffel Towers -- to hang from the rear view mirror and compliment the 'eat more possum" bumper sticker.
Jam spoons in Chinon. They would have made terrific Christmas presents.
I saw two different necklaces in Padova, Italy two years ago. It was the first stop on a RS tour, so I didn't pick them up, thinking I'd see something later, at a different stop, that I'd like better. Oh well. Just reason to go back ;)
Slate domino set in the Lake District.
A handmade bracelet in Castelina in Chianti. I have regretted not buying it for the past two years. It was something like 300 euros, which at the time seemed like a fortune. That is a lot of money, but would have been worth it since I have regretted not buying it so much.
It's true, I will find a bracelet on my next trip though. :)
Some more Venitian glass, as I ended up given most of it away as gifts.
I learned my lesson on my first big Europea trip. I went into this shop in Siena that was full of gorgeous handmade items made of olive wood (I happen to have a particular affinity for ALL things olive so I was particularly smitten). I'm not sure why, but I didn't buy anything - perhaps because I was near the end of a six-week trip, the stuff was fairly expensive, and my bags were already quite full.
As soon as I got home, I was so made at myself. At the time I didn't foresee myself getting back. But lo and behold I went back to Italy a couple years later and happened to make a daytrip to Siena because my travelmate hadn't been before, and happened to stumble upon that shop!!. I didn't make the same mistake this time and bought a couple of pieces, and I love them. One was a wood cup that I use at work at my desk as a pen cup, so that every day I can look at it and remember.
After that experience I now know that if I am in a shop and see stuff I absolutely fall in love with, I have to buy at least something, even if it's small. there's been a few instances I wish I've bought more than I did, like in Venice where all I bought was one pair of handmade glass bead earrings, but at least I have that memento!
one thing that has helped has been doing a bit of research beforehand, if I'm going to a particular region/town/country that is known for a type of thing, I make sure I find a good shop or two to check out and buy it. For example I love crystal so I made it a point to buy a small figurine in Colle di val d'Elsa. That helps alleviate potential regrets, I found.
Passing up the Christmas shop in Salzburg, thinking I'd go back later.
My daughter is still mourning the leather purse she didn't buy because she thought it was too expensive when we were in Italy in 2004. Luckily she and I are going again in June and I hope she finds one she likes as well this trip. I bought her one in Lucca a couple years ago, but it wasn't quite 'the one.' My darling, sainted Mom used to say, "Honey, it isn't the things you buy you regret, it is the things you decide you can't afford or don't have enough room for and don't buy that you end up wishing you had."
Two books on daily life in Pompeii, written in Italian, at a shop on site there. I passed them up because I don't really read very much Italian, but they were very nice and I've regretted ever since not getting them and trying to read them.
A painting in Vernazza and the Kwak glass and stand in Bruges.
What I do and what I tell anyone going on a trip is, you see something you love BUY IT. Europe is not the states, where you will see the same thing a million times.
Rosemary
A Cameo from Italy for my daughter. My travel partner talked me out of it. Said it would be "too old lady" for her. My daughter told me upon my return she would have loved it. Go with your gut feeling.
For me, a beautiful handmade glass and porcelain necklace in the Hong Kong Airport--I was trying to use up my Hong Kong dollars and it was 30 dollars too much. Silly me--I should have just used my credit card! That necklace would have complemented so many things I wear...
Thanks for all your responses. I'm feeling a little bit better. I'll do some research in advance of my trip to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland so I'll know what to look for!
Even though I'm not very religious, I love religious iconography; I also adore Poland, so a reproduction of The Black Madonna of Czestochowa-"The Queen of Poland"- would have been an ideal momento. Unfortunately the nice ones were just a little out of my price range. I kept looking for one I liked that I could afford but never did. Phooey! I should have rebudgeted somehow:(
I regret not buying the beautiful but pricey sweater I saw in a castle gift shop in Scotland--one of those that had lots of colors knitted into it and it would have gone with jeans, any color slacks, skirt, etc.
The designer bag in Paris at a certain shop when France was still on the Franc.
A fan from Barcelona--but I am going to Madrid in May and will purchse a fan!
A Hermes Scarf in a Duty Free shop--price was good.
The most unusual item I ever bought was an 18 lb umbrella stand in Wales--back in the day when heavier luggage was allowed--but I have never regretted this and it passed through security ok.